Worst to first: 2/7/07
I went to the shop today thinking I had hardly anything to pick up, but still managed to come home with five books, plus two preview copies that had come in the mail earlier. So, a decent sized week, with no huge books but a strong slate from top to bottom. Without further ado, the reviews…
Seven: Bullet Points #4 of 6
This series has been really enjoyable so far – the theory of what would’ve happened if Steve Rogers had never been injected with the super serum and how widely the change could affect the Marvel Universe. This issue wasn’t quite as good, at least until the last couple pages. Before then, all we get are a couple more switch-er-oos, with a new person filling the Spider-Man role that was vacated when Peter Parker turned into a petulant little prick and ran headlong into gamma radiation (Peter SMASH!). This “change” just seemed too easy compared to some of the creative choices made earlier in the series.
The next penultimate (that means last, right?) issue should be fun as everything comes to a very large, purple head. I’ll just chalk this one up to the weak link on a very fine story.
Six: Jonah Hex #16
The Ballad of Tallulah Black (this is part one) is gearing up to be one twisted torture porn of a ride. Tallulah is a very scarred and ruined woman who eventually goes after the men who done her wrong, with Jonah Hex’s help. But first we get her origin, which goes as follows: people die, she’s raped and tortured, she’s nearly killed again, she’s nearly raped again and tortured some more. The underlying problem is that Gray and Palmiotti invest zero time in Tallulah prior to her great victimization, so we as readers can’t even begin to identify with her character as anything more than a bloodied face. Not fun reading.
New artist Phil Noto brings a very different style, which is really good in places and really bad in others. He uses very spare inking and lots of washes for color (or computer simulated washes), and in some places it’s too light and near whimsical, which feels wholly disjointed considering the content. His layouts also had fits of convolution, but he does a mean scarred-ass Jonah face.
Five: The Gunslinger Born #1 of 7
My local comic book store had one of the midnight openings last night for this and apparently did good business, though they still had a big stack of books remaining. I haven’t read any of the Dark Tower stuff, so this isn’t really up my alley (I like Stephen King, but I’m no fanatic). I do like Peter David, though, and he spins his usual magic here. I know Jae Lee is a love-him-or-hate-him kind of artist, but I enjoy his pencils and they work well here with Richard Isanove’s paints.
I’m still on the fence though for issue #2. Four bucks is a lot to drop on a comic, especially one that’s so overladen with useless (to me) maps and encylopedic entries in the back. With more real content, I’d probably be settling in for the long haul.
Four: Astro City, The Dark Age, Book Two #2
I really dig this series, but I just don’t think I’m willing to wait around for all the individual issues, whenever they come out. This story is so weird and interesting and Busiek’s world is rich with great characters and ideas and the two brothers aspect works really well and the art is consistently solid. And I could keep going on. But, eventually, I’m going to forget about the series after waiting two months and then miss an issue, so I figure I’ll probably call it a day for now and await the trade.
Three: Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil #1 of 4
This is our Book of Doom this week, so be sure and come back Saturday to share in the reviewing fun. If you want an early look at my thoughts on the series, check here.
Two: 52 #40
For a thorough look at this week’s issue check out Doom DeLuise’s wrap up. I’ve posted some of my thoughts there, which basically amounts to: I love John Henry Irons.
Want to know the secret behind all of 52, or at least a reasonably sane person’s guess? check out my theory here.
One: Detective Comics #828
No surprise. Paul Dini continues his mesmerization of the Legion of Doom. Every week (that he writes), you can count on a few nice Bruce Wayne character moments (usually involving Alred), a fun fight scene or two, some cool characterization of a villain and Batman acting as a, gasp, detective.
The story here is nothing too special: someone dies of somewhat mysterious causes. Batman investigates. What really sells it are all the aforementioned elements, but especially the interaction between Batman and the Riddler. They’re two great minds just sort of comparing notes and sizing each other up amid an otherwise hum-drum whodunnit. I’ll take that over wild ninja man-bat fights any day.
An addendum:
I read but didn’t buy Uncanny X-Men. Of the new characters, I like Darwin. I just don’t see the point of doing these flashback issues with the third wheel, er, Summers, who has not been as engaging.
I dropped Welcome to Tranquility after last week’s scattered mess. This could turn into something fun, but a good idea hasn’t yet turned into a good series. I’ve long abandoned newuniversal and the Irredeemable Ant-Man (another book in need of structure). I also decided not to keep following Scalped. Maybe as a book, but for now I’m jumping ship.
I think my shop quit carrying Sam Noir. I don’t know why. Oh, wait, perhaps because it was at the very bottom of Diamond’s sales lists. For one, I liked it.